The revised planning rules do not protect open spaces, playing fields and recreation grounds

Fear that open spaces could be vulnerable to development.

SIR – The Sport and Recreation Alliance is deeply concerned by the lack of protection for sport and recreation facilities in the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). While we support the need to encourage sustainable development we cannot accept that it must be at the expense of valuable community facilities which enable physical activity and promote community cohesion.

Paragraph 129 of the draft NPPF states: “Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, should not be built on unless: the need for and benefits of the development clearly outweigh the loss.”

As community sports facilities are non-profit facilities, it will be ludicrously easy for developers to prove an economic case for a new development over a grass playing pitch. This is a huge threat to sport as only one in five sports clubs owns its own facilities; the rest must use public space and hired facilities. The average surplus of a non-facility-owning sports club is just £385 per year, so clubs simply do not have enough financial resource to fight against developers.

This policy ignores the benefits of sport and means that open space, sport and recreation facilities will be more vulnerable to development than they are at the moment; playing field protection will be reduced, despite assurances, as there is no requirement to provide a like for like replacement; and developers will be less likely to provide sport and recreation facilities through planning obligations.

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To maintain current levels of protection the draft NPPF should be amended with the addition to paragraph 129 of the words “and a suitable replacement is provided”. This will help maintain the availability of valuable sport and recreation facilities.

Tim Lamb Chief Executive, Sport and Recreation Alliance, London SW1

SIR – The Prime Minister suggests he may be willing to meet the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the National Trust (report, September 15), but the Government’s reassurances about the implications of the draft National Planning Policy Framework for rural England remain disingenuous.

Ministers argue, truthfully, that green belt, national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty will continue to enjoy protection, but this overlooks the fact that most of the everyday, working countryside lies outside such designations.

It is sad that the Government refuses to acknowledge protection of the countryside as one of the great achievements of our planning system. One has only to see how the Celtic Tiger mauled the Irish landscape to understand what England may face.

The planning framework should include a statement explaining why the countryside is of value and enforcing protection.

Karl Cradick Christchurch, Dorset

SIR – A simple way to create investment and jobs would be to zero-rate house improvements and extensions. As there is no cross-border market implication in this the European Union would not interfere.

George Mathewson Blairgowrie, Perthshire

SIR – You report (September 7) that planners have already been told to start approving developments on the basis of the Coalition’s planning guidelines.

But the draft framework is not new legislation; it will only become national policy after the consultation period, when a final text, taking account of responses, will be published. The planning inspectorate simply sent guidance to its inspectors, as is normal when a draft policy is out for consultation, to ensure they are aware of it and treat it consistently when dealing with live cases. Ministers and the inspectorate have agreed that the framework is considered as a draft by inspectors.

We have a slow and bureaucratic planning system that costs the economy £3 billion a year. Reform is imperative for our economic recovery. By combining all planning policies into one concise document we can create a clearer system.

Bob Neill MP (Con) London SW1

SIR – David Ayres (Letters, September 8) says the population density of south-east England has reached 1,660 per square mile. Here on the Morvern peninsula it is a little more than two.

Thank goodness for the rain and the midges.

Iain Thornber Morvern, Argyllshire

SIR – The Conservative logo is a beautiful tree. Would a cement mixer be more appropriate?

Jon Glover Merstham, Surrey

Phoney NHS costing

SIR – Steve Willis (Letters, September 16) rightly reminds us that calculation of the cost of a single journey should not include a part of the total costs of car ownership. As a former chairman of an NHS trust I am exasperated by the health service often telling us the cost of a given operation on this basis as well, and using it to explain why treatments have to be cancelled.

If marginal costs were used by the NHS, it would be fairer: the reaction would be to use assets more efficiently – including staff – to keep costs down. Consultants, staffed beds and manned operating theatres are already in place; using them or otherwise does not alter standing costs so the only extras are the consumables needed for individual treatment, including drugs.

Bearing in mind that postponing treatments often means other drugs being prescribed by GPs and other primary care workers’ services pending hospitalisation, there is a financial incentive not to have waiting lists.

Peter Hayes Siddington, Cheshire

Helping carers

SIR – I read with interest your report on the Princess Royal Trust (September 12) and the intention of Liz Fenton, the chief executive, to improve the lives of carers.

One group of carers remains without support. I refer to elderly carers who shoulder the burden of an adult with a physical or mental illness, and who previously worked and saved for a pension.

Anyone in this category is ignored by the current system because care benefits are means tested. Given the vast amount of money such carers save the country and the government this is a callous omission.

The Princess Royal Trust is in a position to highlight this situation – I wonder if it will.

Suzanne Johnson Newark, Nottinghamshire

Call me Mr

SIR – Since prison officers are to address inmates as “Mr” and “Mrs” (report, September 14) will the same courtesy be extended to hospital patients?

Brian Hodgetts Honiton, Devon

Victims and criminals

SIR – You report (September 16) that half of the recent London rioters were guilty of offences but had never been jailed.

As a retired circuit judge, with experience of criminal justice, I think it would be wrong to conclude that if they had been jailed, they would not have been involved in disorder. Some 75 per cent of adults sentenced to short or medium prison terms re-offend within two years of release. The figure for youths is worse.

In 2003, Northern Ireland introduced the Youth Conference Service, driven by the principle of restorative justice, which is a process of preparing offender and victim for a meeting where the offender offers a sincere apology and the victim confers forgiveness.

In 2006, the combined reoffending rate after youth conferencing was 37.7 per cent, compared with 52.1 per cent for community sentences and 70.7 per cent for custodial sentences. The number of young people sentenced to immediate custody in Northern Ireland has nearly halved.

Ken Clarke, the Justice Secretary, wants restorative justice to play a greater role in offender disposal. I agree.

Rev Peter Morrell Nassington, Cambridgeshire

Slowing up the game

SIR – Geoff Frankcom is right to highlight rugby injuries (Letters, September 15) and the problem that players make no attempt to circumvent the opposition but allow themselves to be tackled.

Not only does this type of play involve more injuries but it is tedious for the spectators. Gone are the days of the likes of Sharp, Campese, Robinson and gone is the excitement.

Isn’t rugby union boring now?

Denis Mallalieu Sale, Cheshire

Waste of energy

SIR – I purchase my electricity and gas supplies from a single provider (EDF), yet I receive two separate bills. In this age of technology (and austerity), I am surprised it is not possible to combine two bills in a single post transaction.

Robert Smith Weston on Trent, Derbyshire

The spicy sauce that Ireland relishes

SIR – David Mason of Carlisle (Letters, September 15) asks: “What happened to Yorkshire Relish?” It’s alive and well on Lidl’s shelves in Skibbereen, County Cork.

James Platt Leap, Co Cork, Ireland

SIR – Spare a tear for Ally Sloper’s sauce. The label had the helpful instruction: “Take plenty of it with everything.”

Alf Lee Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire

SIR – Here in Sheffield we are proud of Henderson’s Relish, which describes itself as the spicy Yorkshire sauce. It has been made for more than 100 years; many a cupboard all over the North has a bottle.

S. J. Apedaile Bolger Sheffield

SIR – Forget the taste of the new HP Sauce: does it still make mucky pennies shiny?